Slip operating device



March 29, 1932. HOFFQSS 1,851,009

- SLIP OPERATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l '32 a l? .q I I a 24 March 29, 1932. J. E. HOFFOSS SLIP OPERATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 29, 1932 f *U'N ITED SITATE ATENT i JOHN E. nornoss, or noUsToN TEXAS, ASSIGNOR To W-K-M COMPANY, or Hous'roiv, I

" TEXAS, (A UOBPORATYION 1 isLIrorEnAame DEVICE Application filed October 17,' 1929. Serial No.- 400,19 I

I My invention relates topipe engaging slips such as areemployed in holding pipe in wells during the operation of drilling or' pumping the well. 7

In the use of pipe in wells,.particularly in deepwells such as oil and gas wells, the pipe which is employed in the wells is coupled to gether insections and in removing the pipe from the well orinserting it into the well the.

6, pipe is held temporarily 1n position with the coupling exposed for screwing'or unscrewing. The holding means employed in thus supporting the pipejare broadly termed a slip or slips and a plurality-of slip sections {5 011: jaws are ordinarily used to makeup the s ips. I

I have shown my invention as employed, particularly with slips for holding tubing while it is being operated uponin the well, it being understood, however,that'it is not limited to this use. a It is an object of my invention to provide a means for holding a plurality of slip sec tions in position to beoperatedsimultaneously, theholding means serving to connect the jaws of the slips loosely together so as to allow a flexibility orli-mited freedom of movement of each jaw relative the adjacent j aws..

It is also an object to provide a holding means for all, of the slips surroundingthe pipe and connecting the j'aws-thereto'so that they may automatically release from the pipe when raised from their seatin the spider 40 by gravity to pipe-engaging position;

The invention lies in the, particular con-" struction and arrangementof the operating means whereby the j aws'areautomatic'ally released from. the pipe as they are elevated and adapted to automatically grip the pipe when they are dropped. 1 T

This feature of novelty will be more clearly understood from the description takengin connection with the drawingsherewith. ='-Fi 'g.,1

plane 3 3 of Fig.1. Fig. t is asideeleva- .tion illustrating the pipe-engagingjjaws'in is a top plan view of'a tubing] slip and-spider involving my invention. 'Fig'. 2 is asideview g largely in elevation certain-parts being brok-j en away for greaterclearness'. Fig.3 isa broken section taken approximately on the V theirrlaised or inoperative position; Fig. 5 is an assembly view illustrating the upper end of a casing with; thetubing therein'and invention shown thereon. I V

' When my device is employed in connection with a casing-head for. handling tubing,gI employ a spider 1,. adapted to seat upon the upper end of the casing-head 2. The spider is made up of upper and lower annular plates, '5: 3 and 4 respectively connected byfa' ClQWIl-i wardly tapered bowl 5.{The two plates and theconnectingbowl are shown as being.di-' videddiametrically into two sections as shown in Fig. 1, onesicleof each'of'these two sections 6 being hinged together at 7,..the opposite side having ar'eleasable pin 8 therein which may beremoved to allow the Spiderto open and makeitpossible to fit the same abouta pipe or tubing.already suspended in the casing; The plates 3-and 4 are provided with reinforcing V webs 9 and 10 on. opposite sides and'j'upright rods 11 connecting the plates serve'also' to re},

inforce the sameand act asananchorto which flexiblechains'12 maybe secured in tyingjthe 3v; 1sgpider to-the casing head as illustrated in. V .ig;5. Y On the upper. plate 30f the spider atone side thereof ism'ounted a supporting plate 14; Said plate is somewhat u shaped in 9 front elevation, oneside' o-f the platebeing connected to the plate 3 and the plate, itself being arched overand secur'edfto the plate 3 in the form of an inverted U: with the legs thereof extending downwardly from the arched portion as will be obvious from Figs; '1 The upper side indicated atl'5 ofj'the platelis inclined from} the inner side: upwardly" to- -ward the}- outjerside and is extended at 1'6 beyondthe supporting sides of the plate and the plate 14 are cut with arcuate slots 18 within which the operating lever may be fulcrum'ed.

The slips are of ordinary construction, being tapered on their outer faces at 19 to fit within the tapered bowl 5. Their inner sides are vertical and toothed at 20 to engage the pipe. The jaws are arcuate in shape and are adapted to wedge between the seat and the pipe to support the pipe in use. Ihave shown six of these jaws making up the slips and have held these jaws flexibly together by means of three plates 22, 23 and 24. These three'plates are connected with the jaws by having inner tenons 25 fit within mortised grooves 26 on the outer sides of the jaws adjacent the upper end thereof. The plates extend outwardly beyond the edges of the jaws and capscrews 27 are screwed within the upper sides of the plate sections centrally of the outer sides of the jaws and the jaws are recessed at 28 as will be understood particularly from Fig. 1, the recess being larger than the head of the screw so as to allow lateral movement of the jaws relative to the plates. It is to be understood that the fit betweenthe plates and the jaws is sufficiently loose to allow a certain flexibility between the jaw and the plate.

The plate 24 is flattened on its outer side at 29 to allow it to more easily rest uponthe upper face 15 of the supporting plate 14. The two plates 22 and 23 are formed with forwardly inclined pins 30 thereon to receive the arms 31 of the lever 32. Said lever is made up of a rod ofiron or steel and the lever arm 32 is approximately U shaped, the two legs thereof connected adj acent'the arms 31 to a pin 33 extending through the'slots 18 in the plate 14. As will be noted from Fig. 2-the lever arm 32 is extended slightly beyond the connection of the lever arm with the branch arms 31 and is enlarged to form a bearing upon the pin 33.

Each of the plates 22 and 23 is hinged to one of the opposite ends of the plate 24. An ordinaryhinge is formed to connect these two forward plates to the plate 24 by means of pivot pins 35.

In operating my slip thus formed the lever arm 32 may be depressed to raise the slips from their position in thebushing supporting the pipe and as the arm 32 is depressed it is necessary to allow the slips to move directly upward in order to release their hold upon the pipe. This upward'movement is allowed through the sliding of the fulcrum 33 of the leverwithin the slot 18. hen the aws are free of the bowl however, the downward movement of the lever will throw them over into the position shown in Fig. 4. As the arms 31 of the lever are connected to the for ward plates 22 and 23, the tendency will be to thro'w'these plates with their supporting jaws. laterally away from the" pipe; this action is facilitated by the jaws being split apart by the pipe as they move away from the pipe and the movement of the lever tends to thus move them free of the pipe, swinging them to the sides. The plates 22 and 23 are enabled to spread apart relative to the arms 31 through the recessing of the plates as shown in Fig. 1, just forwardly of the inclined pivots 30. The lower edge of the plate 24 will engage over the shoulder 17 on the supporting plate and will hold the assembled jaws in their open position from sliding back into the tapered bowl. If it becomes necessary to drop the slips to engage the pipe quickly in case of emergency, the lever arm 32 may be given a slight upward movement, releasing the plate 24 from its engagement with the shoulder 1'7 and the force of gravity will cause the jaws to slide inwardly and close about the pipe, dropping into the tapered seat, automatically and firmly engaging the pipe.

It will be noted that the construction of this device is exceedingly simple. Its action in use is particularly positive so that the slips may be easily withdrawn from the bowl and moved into their inoperative position shown in Fig. 4. This may be done ordinarily by merely stepping upon the lever arm 32, forcing the arms 31 upwardly to raise the jaws and move them into latched position away from the pipe. The device is effective also as a tubing catcher in that the jaws may drop ata moments notice to quickly engage the pipe and prevent its dropping if such a contingency arises. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newis:

1. In a device of the character described, a spider having a tapered bowl, pipe-engaging jaws adapted to fit said bowl, :1 j aw holder including a plate divided into a central section and two side sections, said side sections being hinged to said central section, a flexible connection between each section and a plurality of said jaws, a lever fulcrumed on said spider and engaging said side sections, and adapted when operated to raise said plate and said jaws to one side of said bowl away from the pipe.

2. In a device of the character described,

a spider having a tapered bowl, pipe engaging jaws adapted to fit within said bowl, a central plate and two side plates flexibly connected to said central plate, each of said plates fitting loosely within a morticed groove in two of said jaws, and a lever ful crumed on said spider and connected with said twoside plates, and adapted to raise said plates and jaws from saidbowl' and'swing said side plates and jaws laterally awayfrom the pipe. V 3. In a device of the character described, a spider having a tapered bowl, pipeengaging jaws adapted to fit within said bowl, a central plate and two side plates flexibly connected to said centralplate, each of said plates fitting loosely within a morticed groove in two of said jaws, and a lever connected with said two side'plates, and adapted to raise said plates and jaws from said bowl and swing said side plates and jaws laterally away from the'pipe, and meansto.

' receive said central plate and retain said jaws releasably in inoperative position.

4. In a device of the character described, a spider having a tapered bowl, pipe engag ing jaws adapted to fit within saidbowl, a

central plate and two side plates flexibly con-, nected to said central plate, each of said 'plates fitting loosely within a morticed groove in two of said jaws, and a lever connected with said twoiside plates, and adapted to raise said plates and jaws from said bowl and swing said side plates and jaws laterally away from the pipe, and a'supporting plate on said spider supporting said lever and havinga shoulder to receive and retain said jaws releasably in elevated position.

5. A spider having a downwardly ta ered bowl, a supporting device at one side of said spider, a holder plate including a central section and two side sections hinged to said cen= tral section, a plurality of pipe-engaging jaws flexibly supported on each of said sections, a lever fulcrumed on-said supporting device, and a pivotal connection between said lever and said two side sections, whereby said jaws may be raised and swungtoward said lever away from the pipe.

. 6. A spider having a downwardly tapered bowl, a supporting device atone side of said spider, a holder plate including a central sec-. tion and two side sections hinged to said central section, a plurality of pipe-engaging jaws flexibly supported on each of said sections, a lever fulcrumed on said supporting device and a pivotal connection between said lever and said two side sections, whereby said jaws may be ralsed and swung toward sald lever away from the pipe, and a shoulder on said supportingdevice adapted to receive said central-plate section to retain said aws and holder plate away from the pipe. 7

7. A downwardly tapered bowl,-a support ing plate thereon, a plurality of pipe-engaging jaws which together entirely surround jaws flexibly together except at one open side, and means opposite said openside and connected to saidholder to raise said jaws and move them free of said pipe.

9. A pipe supporting device including a spider, a tapered bowl therein, a plurality of pipe-engaging jaws adaptedv to fit said bowl and engage said pipe, a sectional holding a plate flexibly engagingisaid jaws, and means connected with said plate to raise said jaws andswing them free of the pipe to one side thereof, and means to support said jaws in their ralsed posltion.

10. Aspider h'avlng a pered bowl, a holder plate including a central section-and two side sections hinged to said central section, a plurality of pipe-engaging jaws on each of said sections, a supporting device on one side of said spider having arcuate slots therein, a fulcrum pin 'in said slots, and a lever pivoted on said downwardly tap fulcrum pin and engaging said side sections for the purpose described. f

11 A spider havlng a'tapered bowl, a plurality of pipeengaging slips adapted to fit said bowl, means holding said slips flexibly together for operation as a unit, a supportsupport sothat said slips may move vertically from. their seat.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 28 day of September, A. D. 1929.

A JOHN E. HOFFOSS.

ingplate-on one side of said spider having ion the pipe and which'are adapted to fit said bowl, a holder for said-jaws securing said jaws flexibly together'except at one open side, and meansoppositesaid open side and connected to said holder to raise said jaws and move them free of said pipe, and means to hold said jaws releasably upon said supporting plate.

8. A downwardly tapered bowl,a support 7 ing plate thereon, a pluralityof pipe-engaging jaws which together entirely surround bowl, a holder for said jaws securingsaid the pipe and which are adapted tofit said] I 

